Frequently Asked Questions about the QEP
1. What is the QEP?
- A QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan) is part of the university’s re-accreditation through SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Students). Institutions undergo re-accreditation every 5 years. The QEP is a plan that engages the entire FAU community (faculty, students, staff, and administrators) in identifying and addressing a well-defined topic that contributes to improving the university as a whole and strengthening student learning. The plan must be based around the best educational practices, with clearly defined student learning outcomes and assessments. The plan will include resources for implementation.
2. What is FAU’s QEP topic and how was it selected?
- In fall of 2010, Dr. Edward Pratt, dean of undergraduate studies, and Dr. Jeffrey Buller, dean of the Wilkes Honors College, co-chaired the initiative to select the topic of the QEP. 15 proposals were submitted to the QEP Selections Committee. The QEP topic that was chosen at FAU is “Integrating and expanding a culture of research, scholarship and creative activity”. The primary aim of FAU’s QEP is to integrate and expand a culture of research, inquiry and creative activity into our programs through curricular, co-curricular and honors initiatives.
3. What do research, inquiry and creative activity mean?
- FAU’s faculty and students recognize inquiry to be both a process and a product which encompasses intellectual traits that transcend subject matter divisions. Examples of such commonalities include: questioning existing ideas, problem solving, thinking creatively, and exploring new ideas and the processes by which knowledge is discovered. For the purposes of this QEP, our definition of research is:
- An inquiry or investigation conducted by an undergraduate student that makes an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline or practice (modified from the Council of Undergraduate Research, CUR) 1.
4. What is the importance of the QEP for FAU?
- FAU is seeking reaffirmation of accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). This process is already underway and will be finalized in 2013. As part of this process, a QEP will propose the enhancement of educational quality at FAU beyond 2013. The QEP timeline is a 5-7 year plan of action. This plan will focus on supporting student learning and on accomplishing the mission of our university.
5. What will peer reviewers be looking for?
SACS Core requirement 2.12
- The institution has developed an acceptable Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) that includes an institutional process for identifying key issues emerging from institutional assessment focuses on learning outcomes and/or the environment supporting student learning accomplishing the mission of the institution
SACS Comprehensive standards 3.3.2
- The institution has developed a Quality Enhancement Plan that demonstrates institutional capability for the initiation, implementation, and completion of the QEP; includes broad-based involvement of institutional constituencies in the development and proposed implementation of the QEP; identifies goals and a plan to assess their achievement.
6. How can you share your ideas?
- There is a link for comments/suggestions located on the left-hand column of this website. We will be updating this website periodically with the latest draft of the QEP ideas and action items. Feel free to provide feedback through this link.
- In addition, the emails of each of the committee chairs are also provided on the homepage for your use. You can share ideas by contacting the QEP steering committee representatives from your college
7. I am a faculty member interested in hearing about the opportunities that the QEP will bring to my department and programs, what should I do?
- Great! We will be updating this website periodically, and launching updates and proposals. Keep updated through this website. Click on the “Faculty” …
- In addition, we will be hosting a series of educational awareness events in the Fall and Spring regarding the QEP. You can view these through our “QEP Outreach” link. Please attend one of these or contact us to schedule one directly for your department meeting etc. at qep@fau.edu
8. I am a student who is interested in doing independent or faculty mentored scholarly work, what should I do?
- Fantastic! FAU is in the process of developing an Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry office and website. This will be launched shortly, and will have a number of resources and how-to’s to get you involved with research, scholarship and inquiry. Until then, perhaps use some of the resources from our partner institutions (listed below), or contact us by email at qep@fau.edu
